Monday's Chateau - Chateau du Rivau.

Château du Rivau is one of those châteaux that seems to change character with every viewpoint. The towers, walls, gardens and surrounding landscape give it plenty of different faces, making it surprisingly photogenic from almost any angle. I have more photographs on my Château du Rivau page which also explains the Joan of Arc connection.

Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”

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Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley's legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region's story.

Discover more about the Loire Valley

Browse the full series

 © Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,

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A bench with a view at Château de Candé.

A bench with a view and this one has a particularly good one. From the grounds of Château de Candé, the view stretches across the wooded Indre valley to the railway viaduct at Monts. The viaduct carries the railway over the Indre and has been part of the landscape for well over a century.

The view also puts the setting of Château de Candé into perspective. The estate sits above the Indre valley and has a large park of 230 hectares, much of it woodland.

“On Sundays, Touraine speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “My Sunday Bench” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — My Sunday bench · Back to Home

Rue de la Mairie, Villandry: on the streets of Touraine

Rue de la Mairie runs through the centre of Villandry towards the château. The village has much older roots than its famous Renaissance château might suggest: it was originally known as Colombiers, and that name remained in use until 1639.

There's also a nice historical detail here. In 1189, the 'Peace of Colombiers' was agreed at the medieval fortress that stood on the site of today's château, when Henry II of England recognised Richard the Lionheart as his heir.

 Rue Principale

This is Villandry as a village, rather than just as the famous château and gardens.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end - have a lovely weekend everyone.

Le Grand-Pressigny

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

Taken in Touraine: La Poterne and Château du Lion, Preuilly-sur-Claise

There is rather more history behind this view than the reconstructed château might suggest. Today the 'Musée de la Poterne' occupies the former southern gateway of the Château du Lion, a building that later served as the town prison. Today, its collections tell a rather different story, with local archaeology and everyday life alongside a particularly interesting collection of Touraine lace and traditional headdresses. One room is devoted to the headdresses and lace, arranged to illustrate different stages of daily life.

The château behind it was reconstructed in the early 20th century on the site of the medieval fortress. The original castle had endured several sieges during the Hundred Years' War before being taken and dismantled by the English.

It is a good example of Preuilly-sur-Claise, where fragments of the medieval town sit alongside later buildings and reconstructions.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Windows of Southern Touraine...

There is something very appealing about the traditional houses of Southern Touraine, where pale tufa stone is often set off by painted shutters and doors. Here, the soft green woodwork and climbing plant add a little colour without taking away from the simplicity of the old stonework.

NB This little house is currently for sale as part of a larger property.

“Through every window,Touraine breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”

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Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home

The poet's walk...

Avenue André Theuriet crosses the Claise at Le Grand-Pressigny, named after the poet and novelist who lived in the area and drew inspiration from the villages and countryside of the valley.

If André Theuriet were to walk this road today, he might be surprised by how little it has changed. The Claise still flows beneath the bridge, the countryside is still green and peaceful and the village beyond remains much as he would have known it.

Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Exploring the towns and villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home

Château de La Guerche - who knew?

Château de La Guerche has,apparently, strong connections with Agnès Sorel, the celebrated favourite of Charles VII. Agnès is traditionally said to have been born at Fromenteau, now in the commune of Chambon, just a few kilometres away. She also had family connections with the Villequier family who built La Guerche, making this part of Touraine particularly important in her story.

Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”

---

Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley's legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region's story.

Discover more about the Loire Valley

Browse the full series

 © Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,

Back to Home

My Sunday Bench — Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tours.

Just beyond the cathedral, the gardens of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours offer one of the city's most peaceful places to sit. With clipped hedges, mature trees and the former Archbishop's Palace as a backdrop, it's a Sunday bench with a distinctly elegant setting.

Anecdote: The museum occupies the former Palais des Archevêques , a residence that became one of the grandest in Touraine. Its formal gardens remain open to visitors, providing a quiet retreat just a few steps from the busy streets of central Tours.

“On Sundays, Touraine speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

---

Part of the “My Sunday Bench” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — My Sunday bench · Back to Home

On the Streets of Touraine — Chinon

Chinon's medieval streets still follow the same narrow lanes laid out centuries ago, with timber-framed houses leaning gently towards one another. It's a town best explored on foot, where every corner seems to reveal another piece of its long history.

Many of Chinon's half-timbered houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Their upper floors were often built to project over the street, giving homeowners a little extra living space while keeping these medieval lanes pleasantly shaded during the summer.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

---

Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Étang du Louroux - Bon week-end.

The return of cloud cover and more sensible temperatures makes this the perfect weekend to rediscover one of Touraine's loveliest nature walks. The circular trail around Étang du Louroux offers peaceful lakeside views, abundant birdlife and plenty of shady spots to pause along the way.

Covering around 60 hectares, Étang du Louroux is one of the largest wetlands in southern Touraine. Originally created by monks in the Middle Ages, it has become an important nature reserve where herons, kingfishers and dozens of migratory bird species can be spotted throughout the year.

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

The Hart of the matter - Taken in Touraine

Standing before the Royal Lodgings of Loches, the striking Cerf Ailé (Winged Hart) creates an unexpected meeting between medieval history and contemporary art. It has become a memorable welcome for visitors exploring one of France's most important royal residences.

The winged hart is far more than a modern sculpture. The hart was the personal emblem of King Charles VI, symbolising nobility and resilience, while the addition of wings gives this contemporary artwork a sense of freedom and imagination. Set against the 15th-century Royal Lodgings, it beautifully bridges six centuries of French history.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

---

Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Wednesday for windows - inside out!

A view from a window onto chateau de La Guerche.

This view could be yours as house is for sale - you can take a walk through the house here.

“Through every window, the Loire breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”

---

Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home